Brighton (South East) and Carlisle (North West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Brighton rates 59/100 (grade C) and Carlisle rates 54/100 (grade C). Brighton has the stronger schools, with 100% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Carlisle works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£444 versus ~£451). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.
Brighton vs Carlisle: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Brighton comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, broadband. However, Carlisle performs better in affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brighton or Carlisle better to live in?
Brighton comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, broadband. However, Carlisle performs better in affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Brighton safer than Carlisle?
Brighton and Carlisle have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Brighton or Carlisle?
Brighton has 15 schools within 3km, with 100% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Carlisle has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Brighton or Carlisle?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Carlisle (~£444/month) compared to Brighton (~£451/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
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Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.